Georgia Sports Betting – Latest Updates and 2025 Timeline i6457

Georgia, a state with no legal gambling other than a successful and popular state lottery, has flirted with legalizing online sports betting for the past several years. 22f64

Legislative efforts are currently ongoing in 2024 with Senate Bill 386 confidently advancing through the State Senate. However, there’s a long way to go before this promising Bill can make Georgia sports betting a reality.

This is the place to find information on the history of sports betting in Georgia (or lack thereof), the latest legislative efforts to legalize online sports betting in the state, and what a potential legal market could look like. Let’s get started.

⛔Is sports betting legal in GA? No, it is not.
🌏What is the Georgia population? 10.8 million.
🔞What is legal age for betting in Georgia? 21
⏱When Will Sportsbooks Launch? TBD

Georgia sports betting news 561u2u

Georgia sports betting efforts in 2025 4dw3u

The fight to bring legal sports betting to Georgia began again with the new legislative session. Multiple bills are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, and there is genuine optimism that the Peach State could find a way in 2025. Here’s where we are currently:

Georgia officially did not legalize sports betting in 2024 2c6p6b

As of Thursday, March 29, Georgia’s House of Representatives failed to legalize any form of sports betting in the Peach State on the final day of the state’s legislative session.

SR 579 and SB 386 were two points of discussion – but no resolution could be reached. Therefore, Georgians will have to wait another year to see if legislators can agree on a path towards sports betting legalization.

SB 386 shows promise, es Senate 4i34a

Senate Bill 386 was introduced on January 24th, with a surprising amount of legislative . At the time of its introduction, SB 386 did not call for a constitutional amendment, seeking to create a market with up to 16 online sports betting apps in Georgia. Professional sports teams and venues would be eligible to apply for licenses, and a reasonable 20% tax on adjusted gross income. Betting would be reserved for this 21 and up.

SB 386 advanced through the Senate Economic and Tourism Committee on January 30th with a commanding 8-2 victory – a promising step.

On February 1st, SB 386 was discussed by the State Senate and ultimately ed through with a 35-15 vote. However, the way forward is still difficult. The bill was amended to require a constitutional amendment. As a result, it will need two-thirds when attempting to the House instead of a simple majority. Further, Governor Kemp, who is expected to be ive, would need to sign the Bill into law, and then voters would have to give their backing in November.

Senate Resolution 538, which is a more widespread expansion of gambling in the state (including brick-and-mortar casino) also ed the Senate Economic and Tourism Committee, this time late in February. We’ll keep a close eye on both these bills, with the hope that at least one ed the House and is able to get a governor’s signature. This election year is proving to be a tumultuous one in the Peach State, so any bill hoping to will have to have strong bipartisan – keep an eye on this page for details.

The return of SB 172 4l48i

Georgia sports betting started 2024 with a familiar name resurfacing. SB 172, which fell on the Senate floor in 2023, was reintroduced on January 10th. It then ed through the Senate Regulated Industries Committee by an 8-4 vote. SB 172 seeks to legalize both retail sports betting, and online sports betting in Georgia with a constitutional amendment. It has currently been tabled.

Will GA sports betting require a constitutional amendment? 704j4j

Much of the discourse on sports betting in Georgia revolves around whether or not a constitutional amendment will be required. It seems to have been assumed that an amendment would be necessary.

In 2023 however, experts began floating the idea of standalone sports betting bills which would only require a simple legislative majority – no amendment. This involves classification, and regulation falling under the state’s pre-existing Lottery structure.

If the state ultimately requires a constitutional amendment, the task gets far more complicated. Instead of a simple majority, they’ll need to have the of 2/3rds of the legislature. Further, voters would then have to vote for it in November.

Georgia sports betting falls short in 2023 1g2016

The Georgia legislature seriously pursued sports betting in 2023, tossing around an assortment of bills that each could have paved the way for legal sports betting in the state. Sadly, none of them were able to acquire the necessary .

First, SB 57, which would NOT require a constitutional amendment, SB 57 was voted down in the State Senate by a 37-19 margin.

SB 172 was proposed as a way of bringing sports betting to Georgia with a constitutional amendment. There were committee hearings, but ultimately it didn’t receive the necessary to progress.

Sports betting operators seemed to throw their behind Efforts for 2023 were officially dead by the end of March.

Factors to consider for Georgia sports betting 4c562j

Because of Georgia’s history of opposition to legalized gambling, proponents of casino and sports betting in the state have always had an uphill battle to convince leaders that it’s time.

For years now, developers and casino executives have been dazzling local and state government officials with exciting presentations of casino resorts and the robust tax revenue they would surely provide. The problem they have faced is that any expansion of gambling in the state would require a public vote by referendum.

Opponents of gambling haven’t had much trouble rallying people to their cause. Religious opposition in particular argues that any sort of gambling is immoral and will lead to societal problems. It’s just not worth the additional tax revenue, they say.

Since a large segment of the Georgia population is religious, this argument carries a lot of weight. The people haven’t wanted casinos in their state or local community.

But here’s the catch: online sports betting legislation doesn’t need casinos. It would simply legalize something that people have been doing illegally for decades. Plus, the resulting tax revenue would help even more young people in the state further their education.

(Screenshot Courtesy of Georgia Senate)

Past Attempts for Georgia Legislation r114c

In early 2021, hope for legalized online sports betting among ers was running high. Rep. Bill Stephens introduced a bill, H.B. 86, that would authorize online sports betting with the state Lottery Commission being the regulator.

Operators would be taxed at 14 percent and proceeds would go toward education programs, similar to the state lottery. This seemed like a reasonable bill that would classify sports betting as a lottery-style game in order to avoid the need to put the issue to a public vote. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate but fell short.

Past Progress in the Senate 65435r

It’s true that similar legislation was introduced in the Senate, and original legislation was modified after a committee hearing. Now is far from the lottery-regulated model advocated by Rep. Stephens. Senator Bill Cowsert had originally proposed that the state Lottery Commission regulate online sports betting.

After conversations and additional he changed his mind. Now he believes that it would be a “stretch” to call sports betting a “lottery game”. His new strategy was to legislation that would present a referendum to Georgia voters, asking them to amend the state constitution to legalize sports betting.

If the voters approved the referendum, the state would proceed with creating a regulatory structure for online sports betting in the state. Operators would then apply for licenses and, once approved, sports betting would be able to begin

Politics 1t1j54

While both the House and Senate are controlled by Republicans, some conservative state legislators are consistently opposed to any legislation that would expand gambling in the state. As such, Republican legislators who online sports betting must rely on the of their Democratic counterparts to ensure age of the legislation.

Because of this, Democrats have leverage, and can hold up sports betting legalization and other Republican priorities in order to or oppose bills that are of importance to them.

Photo: Shutterstock

Access to the voting issue a2lp

One controversial issue of importance to both parties in the state is access to voting. Republicans want to limit access to voting. They also want to ensure that the voting process is, in their opinion, secure and free from undue influence.

Democrats in the state vehemently opposed these legislative proposals. They are saying that any limitations on access to voting will disproportionately affect minorities. As such, they have decided to withhold their for pending bipartisan legislation, including sports betting bills.

This previously unforeseen development was a big problem for efforts to bring online sports betting to the state in years past.

The latest Georgia news n3029

Georgia House Faces Tight Deadline on Sports Betting Legislation 1eau

As the clock ticks down, Georgia's House of Representatives is considering two pivotal bills that could pave the way for legal sports betting in the state. HB 686 and HR 450 aim to establish a framework for online sports betting and propose a constitutional amendment, respectively. However, with the crossover deadline looming on March 6, time is of the essence for these bills to advance to the opposite chamber. Digital Sports Betting Framework Proposed The proposed legislation focuses exclusively on digital sports betting, leaving the decision to voters through a referendum. If ed, the bills would create a competitive marketplace...

Is Fanatics Sportsbook Legal in Georgia? 4q6f4p

As of now, traditional sports betting is not legal in Georgia. Although there were legislative efforts to legalize sports betting in 2024, the amendment did not . This means that while betting could be voted on again in 2025, the earliest it could become legal is 2026, following the next general election. This delay has left many hopeful bettors eagerly awaiting changes in the law. The potential entry of Fanatics Sportsbook into the Georgia market is generating considerable interest, contingent on these legal developments. The Legal Landscape of Sports Betting in Georgia — Overview The legal landscape of sports betting...

Mississippi Online Sports Betting Bill Fails In Conference Committee 1g66z

Mississippi legislators will likely attempt to revisit the topic of legal online sports betting in future legislative sessions.

Potential Georgia online sportsbooks 1p6o3

It remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached that will result in online sports betting in the state within the next year or so. Even if legislators don’t end up coming to an agreement, it is reasonable to assume that online sports betting will make its way to Georgia at some point in the future.

When it does, this information about all the potential rules, operators, and banking options available will help you be ready to open an and start betting.

Tennessee sports betting went live in 2020 with an online-only model. It became the first state to offer online sports betting without any retail casinos. Since Georgia has been exploring a similar model, the eventual lineup may end up looking quite similar. Potential GA sportsbook operators include (but aren’t limited to):

Possible rules for GA betting 65313r

Talking about the potential rules of sports betting in Georgia may be a bit of a stretch at this point in time, but let’s go for it anyway. These potential rules come from the sports betting legislation that has been introduced so far this year

Many of the proposed rules are standard in every state, so they will likely be included in whatever regulatory structure ends up in place in Georgia.

1) Self-exclusion 1t131b

Operators will be required to have procedures in place to allow people to exclude themselves from using their service and/or place limits on amounts wagered. Responsible gaming is extremely important within the legal iGaming industry.

2) 21+ 46q2m

Bettors in the state must be 21 or older to legally place wagers. All current legislation points to the legal betting age in Georgia betting set at 21.

3) Located in the state 5i273i

Bettors must be physically in the state of Georgia to legally place a wager. This is determined by using geolocation software. You can it onto your laptop or authorize it on your smartphone.

Anyone physically present in the state can bet; you don’t have to be a resident of Georgia to create an and wager. This is good news for the millions of people traveling through the state on I-95 or I-75, or who are there on a layover at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

4) Primarily online wagering 1s4z39

Online sports betting is the principal focus of the current bills, however, there would be opportunities for retail betting. Brick-and-mortar casinos are not expected to come to Georgia anytime soon, so there will not be any casino partnerships in the state… however, licensed betting providers may be able to partner with sports venues in the state to provide in-person betting experiences. Like, a retail sportsbook at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, for example.

5) Betting on college teams l5i2n

Current proposals do allow for college sports betting. College sports are so overwhelmingly popular in Georgia that it would be hugely disappointing if the eventual legislation did not permit it. Regardless, It would be a big miss if college football betting was not allowed in the state of Georgia.

Offered markets and bet types a2o1p

The number of different sports offered by the online bookmakers operating in Georgia is potentially…all of them! Why not? Sportsbooks already offer wagering opportunities on sports all over the world, from cricket to darts to rugby.

In 2-3 years there may be even more sports to bet on. Let’s shoot for the stars! Expect all mainstream U.S. offerings, NHL, etc., plus plenty of niche items.

As for types of bets offered, this will likely be determined by the future regulatory body in the state. Most states include types of bets allowed in their official rules and regulations, so operators in Georgia would likely be authorized to offer most or all of the following bet types:

  • Futures
  • In-play/live betting
  • Moneyline
  • Over/Under
  • Parlays
  • Props
  • Spread
  • Teasers

Banking options 255qh

Options for deposits and withdrawals vary by state, but the most common banking methods include:

  • Credit/debit cards
  • Electronic bank transfer
  • Online mobile payment systems (PayPal, etc.)
  • Other methods approved by the operator (branded prepaid cards, etc.)
  • Old-fashioned paper checks

Customer 31h6v

You may be able to get on the phone with a customer representative at an offshore sportsbook, but what motivation do they have to solve your problem? They already have your money. You have no recourse if they don’t resolve the issue you called or emailed about. There is no regulatory agency to a complaint with.

Compare that with a legal, regulated sportsbook. They are highly motivated to solve your problem because if their customer service is not up to your standards, you have the option to withdraw your money and take your business elsewhere. And they are required to cash you out under the rules in which they operate.

Legal sportsbooks generally have excellent customer service. They are usually able to resolve even the most complicated issue because they want to keep your business. As their primary communication methods, legal online sportsbooks use:

  1. FAQs;
  2. phone ;
  3. live chat;
  4. email.

Why use a legal sportsbook? 60713d

Georgians are already betting on sports, either by going through a local bookie or using an offshore online operator.

A few folks in the northern part of the state may run over to Tennessee on the weekends to get their bets in. However they are doing it, let’s not pretend that it isn’t happening. Many people want to legally bet but are currently unable to do so.

There are many reasons why bettors should use a legal online sportsbook for their wagering. True, that isn’t possible in Georgia right now, but it is in other states and will be one day in the Peach state. Let’s go over a few reasons why it is a good idea to use a legal sportsbook.

1) Security/Peace of Mind 1g738

An offshore book or local bookie will likely be happy to take your “deposit.” They make it really easy for you to give them your money to use for a wager. But when you win, are they just as reliable to pay you out? What recourse do you have if they simply choose not to pay? Very little, to be honest.

Contrast that with a legal sportsbook that is regulated in the state(s) in which it does business. Your money is safe, secure, and available for withdrawal upon operator approval.

2) Promotions 161t59

Does Joe Bookie match your first deposit? Unlikely. Will he let you bet again if your first bet loses? Hah. Good luck with that. You know who will match your first deposit? You know who will give you a credit if your first bet loses? Legal sportsbooks will.

Legal, regulated sportsbooks compete for your business. They all offer some sort of sportsbook promotions for new s. Since Georgia will have several operators, you will easily be able to find the promotion that suits your particular gambling interests.

3) Betting options 6q1oc

It appears that Georgia will be an open, competitive market. At least six licenses will be up for grabs, and it is possible that a dozen or more operators will end up going live in the state. This is great news for bettors.

If several operators are in a state, they have to compete for market share. This results in valuable promotions being offered to entice new customers to sign up. Some operators may have better lines, some might offer better ongoing promotions, while others might be focused on offering the widest variety of sports.

Maybe you really like futures bets. All books have futures bets available, but with at least six online sportsbooks available in the state, you will be able to shop around to find the best price and value. The betting options are almost endless when there are multiple operators competing for your business.

4) Mobility 5c3156

Everyone has a smartphone these days. To paraphrase what has likely been a cell phone company ad, “the future is mobile.” If that hasn’t been on an ad yet, it should be. Anyway, it’s actually good that Georgia is planning to go mobile-only for its sports betting legalization plan.

Mobile betting (browser and mobile) makes up over 90 percent of all the sports betting revenue generated in some states. Georgia doesn’t need casinos to generate millions of dollars in revenue for its education programs.

Mobile betting also benefits bettors. Similar to betting options in a competitive market, each operator has a different app. Some are definitely better than others. In fact, SportsHandle even has a review and ranking of all the biggest sportsbook mobile apps.

Many of the top-rated apps will likely be available in Georgia. Bettors have clearly shown their preference for mobile betting. The future is here, and it’s mobile.

History of gambling in Georgia 2d6vg

Back in the mid-1800s, there wasn’t much to gamble on. Horse racing was just getting started, all the major sports hadn’t been invented yet, and people didn’t exactly have much free time or disposable income. But the lottery did exist in the 1800s and it took the southern states by storm.

The only problem was that it was notoriously corrupt. As the corruption took root and people realized the game was rigged, religious leaders appealed to state legislatures to prohibit lotteries on moral grounds. State political leaders took heed, and in 1878 Georgia ed many other states in banning all types of gambling, including lotteries.

Unlike other states that loosened up their restrictions on lotteries and gambling, Georgia stood firm and continued to prohibit all forms of gambling for almost 100 years, until it legalized charity bingo and raffles in 1976.

By the 1970s, many states had state-run lotteries in addition to horse racing and other types of gambling. Georgia did not. But in 1992, the state decided it was time to expand gambling and introduced a state-run lottery that would fund educational opportunities in the state.

The lottery has proven to be extremely popular and successful, and the revenue generated from it has provided thousands of young Georgians with the opportunity to go to college through the HOPE scholarship program. It remains the only legal gambling option in the state.[/vc_column_text]

Ted Dahlstrom

Ted Dahlstrom 3k1e49

Ted Dahlstrom works in the Seattle area as an Editor for Better Collective. Ted’s background is in government and communication, but his ion is writing about sports and sports betting, which led him to BC in an unexpected alignment. He avidly s all the Seattle sports teams and Gonzaga basketball.